Our Work.

We’ve done a lot for our clients — and we’re always ready for more. Use the filters below to read short summaries of our work in the field.

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Tech & Process Change

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Product Launch/Market Expansion

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Transformation

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Change Management

Learning And Development

Technology Change

Undergoing a Big Technology Change

One of the best-known retail brands in the world decided it was time to standardize their product creation processes. They turned to Emerson for help.

One of the best-known retail brands in the world decided it was time to standardize their product creation processes, from design to manufacturing. They turned to Emerson for help.

The Emerson team provided transition management, training and communication strategy, and planning for the Product Lifecycle Management system. We provided a “war room” for post-go-live support. We developed the entire infrastructure of the change, including end-to-end process mapping, change agent/super-user mobilization, leadership engagement, management of subject matter experts, and a training curriculum for the U.S. and in Asia — all leading to a successful launch.

Quick Transformation

A major investment management firm was leader in emerging markets and client relationships but, in the recent years, the firm had under-performed. They realized they had to transform quickly or risk losing clients to competitors. They turned to Emerson for help.

A major investment management firm was leader in emerging markets and client relationships but, in the recent years, the firm had under-performed. They realized they had to transform quickly or risk losing clients to competitors. They turned to Emerson for help in three key areas: ensuring a smooth involuntary separation of a handful of employees, developing a compelling message for their transformation, and identifying new behaviors critical to their success.

Emerson led a workshop to build the message, align leadership, and prepare them to engage the firm on this necessary transformation. We also facilitated a Key Behaviors session, where executives and managers identified the new employee behaviors that would drive the change.

Their president remarked, “[Emerson]…has been invaluable. They have consistently gone above and beyond, sharing insights and perspectives.”

Monumental Change

A major retailer’s traditional brick and mortar stores faced tougher competition in the rapidly changing retail landscape. It was time for executives to “Lead Transformation FORward” – to Focus on the work ahead, to Own the opportunity to lead their teams, and to Reinspire for the future. The company asked Emerson to lead the communication effort for this monumental change.

We worked with them to build a FORward change model that defined the new behaviors leaders would need, including quarterly leader summits.

How Change Management Should Be Done

A major healthcare organization was launching a professional services procurement system that would impact all 28 of its suppliers and potentially touch 5,000 employees. They asked Emerson to build communication and training for this important new tool.

A major healthcare organization was launching a professional services procurement system that would impact all 28 of its suppliers and potentially touch 5,000 employees. The new technology would replace outdated, non-integrated systems, and inconsistent, manual processes. They asked Emerson to build communication and training for this important new tool.

The focus of our project was to improve understanding, confidence, and usage, while decreasing user dissatisfaction. We then conducted an executive team workshop to craft a message to describe the vision for employees. We developed a manager toolkit that business leaders could share with their teams, the end users. The toolkit addressed challenges and solutions, where to go for help, and upcoming training.

We also developed three role-based support guides focused on the end-to-end process and interactions needed to successfully transact business. We also conducted train-the-trainer sessions for our client’s training team. Leadership was thrilled with the results.

One executive remarked, “This is how change management should be done.”

A Global Solution

A major internet services provider was growing fast, globally. As a result, there were discrepancies between regional onboarding programs. And they had to fix that, quickly. They asked Emerson for help.

A major internet services provider was growing fast, both organically and through acquisition. They had data centers spread across five continents and 48 markets. As a result, there were discrepancies between regional onboarding programs. And they had to fix that, quickly. Corporate talent management needed to efficiently and effectively onboard more than 2,000 employees in 2018. But they saw this as an opportunity — to use the best-of-the-best onboarding resources and develop a global solution. They asked Emerson for help.

We worked with them to create a global onboarding experience. We conducted interviews with the corporate management team and recent new hires to gather content and insights. Then we built two distinct learning courses, each encompassing 120+ onboarding activities, to be completed by new-hire individual contributors or managers. Each employee had a custom program with nine learning paths.

We also created two Learning Channel portal pages to enable employees to launch and track their own progress to success.

A Hero’s Journey

A professional services asked Emerson to develop an engaging learning program for direct-hire consultants.

One of the world’s biggest professional services firms believes strongly in ongoing learning for its employees. They asked Emerson to develop an engaging learning program for direct-hire consultants. We used a “Hero’s Journey” theme to tie the courses together.

Also, we used concepts like allies/mentors, sharpening weapons, and facing conflicts to teach business skills like strategic networking, data visualization, storytelling, and presentation.

Home Grown Change

When a data management company wanted to create home-grown change agents, they reached out to Emerson for help.

When a data management company wanted to create home-grown change agents, they reached out to Emerson for help. We developed a six-hour instructor-led course to teach employees to be change professionals.

The course included an introduction to a new change management methodology, creation of a change plan, and Emerson’s messaging approach. We partnered with company instructors to deliver the course, which covered methods, tools and overcoming barriers to success. The first conduct prepared seven in-house leaders to carry the course forward.

Retail’s Human Resources

Emerson worked with one of the country's biggest clothing retailers define a new HR operating model while improving business processes.

Emerson worked with one of the country’s biggest clothing retailers define a new HR operating model while improving business processes. We gathered a group of HR representatives and helped them document existing processes. We then held visioning sessions with the larger group of HR stakeholders (50 people) to vet the findings from the subgroup. We worked with stakeholders to refine and agree on the major processes within the new framework.

These processes became the baseline for the new HR organization and a key factor in selecting the optimal HR operating model.

Innovation and Risk

A major technology company recognized their executives needed greater awareness of and sensitivity to diversity issues to make their multicultural teams more effective.

A major technology company recognized their executives needed greater awareness of and sensitivity to diversity issues to make their multicultural teams more effective. Emerson presented the Broadening the Perspective workshop which helped participants understand diversity and multiculturalism as tools that help companies gain a competitive advantage.

Based on an in-depth cultural assessment, we designed a custom solution that included leadership training, awareness training, and management/team leader training.

The result: innovation and risk-taking behavior – which had diminished due to workforce and environment changes – increased. Company leadership attributed the change to a more affirming and inclusive environment. Comments from participants of the workshop attest to its success: “Exceeded my expectations…. Should be mandatory …for all new hires, middle management and senior executives.” “I now have more consideration for using diversity as a tool instead of just a ‘difference to overcome.’” “My expectations were much lower. I thought it would be a waste of time. I was totally wrong.”

Thrive Through Go-Live

A major food and beverage company was in the process of an enterprise-wide systems implementation and needed help motivating employees to work together, so they could thrive, rather than survive, through the changes.

A major food and beverage conglomerate had gone through a merger and was in the process of an enterprise-wide systems implementation. People were feeling overwhelmed, confused, and divided. Leadership engaged Emerson to help them motivate employees to work together, so they could thrive, rather than survive, through the changes.

We began by conducting one-on-one interviews and focus groups with executives and employees to understand the challenges, motivations and assumptions that contributed to the environment. We led participants through activities that changed the way they thought about key business problems. They learned how information could help alleviate confusion and discussed the personal benefits of effective teams.

At the end of the workshop, we provided a robust summary of their work, which included documentation of their frustrations, revelations, and to-dos. Team members reported that they were grateful to be heard and motivated to participate in the change.

Use As Intended

A major network storage and data management company needed help encouraging its partners to use an internal support website as it was intended.

The support site of a major network storage and data management company contained a wealth of information for its partners, distributors and service providers. But the site was hard to navigate and discouraging to users. Partners would rather call the company for answers than use the self-service reference material on the site. Leadership asked Emerson to help encourage people to use the site as it was intended.

We created simple YouTube-style videos to promote and teach the features of the site. The two-to-five-minute interactive demos helped people navigate and find information. Each demo guided the user through one feature of the site, such as looking up the status of a bug fix or ordering new parts.

The videos were interactive and provided real training, not just exposure. The program exceeded our client’s expectations and improved site traffic and user experience.

Scalable SAP Training

A large pharmaceutical company asked Emerson to help develop both short-term and long-term SAP strategies.

With over 11,000 SAP users, a large pharmaceutical company had a challenge on its hands. Historically, they had focused on excellent training for users on major releases and upgrades. But they had few resources to support and enable new employees, or to address the ongoing needs of existing employees. The good news? Their business technology solutions group created a new organization focused on user effectiveness. Their leader asked Emerson to develop both short-term and long-term strategies for the group.

In addition to helping define the company’s approach to large-scale organizational transformation, Emerson delivered quick-win SAP training and performance support solutions for two key business units. The project created a scalable model to replicate, helping enterprise SAP users stay sharp and effective.

Renovating and Rebranding

A hotel and hospitality company wanted to surpass other premier lifestyle hotel brands through rebranding and getting employees up to speed on how the new brand would serve its customers.

A major international hotel and hospitality company wanted to surpass other premier lifestyle hotel brands. The solution was a rebrand from top to bottom, including updated lobbies, modern rooms, the latest technology and employees who understood the needs of today’s high-end traveler.

It also meant getting employees up to speed on the ways the new brand served its customers.

Emerson partnered with our client’s change professionals to pilot the new program in select hotels. This included new standards for cultural knowledge, style and area expertise. We diagnosed readiness for managers and introduced a peer-to-peer feedback tool for employees.

Walk in to one of their hotels today and you will be met by ambassadors steeped in new behaviors and values that reflect the best this premier brand has to offer.

Implementation Is Our Specialty

A clothing retailer hired a firm to develop a new retail concept and service model, then turned to Emerson for implementation.

A major U.S. clothing retailer hired a premier strategy firm to develop a new retail concept and sales/service model. Then the company turned to us for implementation. We developed and conducted the training, communication and coaching required for the concept store.

Our longstanding relationship with this client, across many years and many projects, has made us their go-to partner for human capital implementations.

Ready or Not?

A large accounting and finance staff firm asked Emerson to diagnose their readiness for a massive CRM change and then develop and execute a change management plan.

The world’s first and largest accounting and finance staffing firm, with over 400 locations worldwide, was number one in the world and they wanted to stay there. They realized that many of their leading competitors had moved to mobile platforms and more efficient systems, so they launched a significant process and systems transformation. Salesforce would be the CRM system for their 12,000 employees across the globe. All client-facing employees would use tablets, freeing them office-based interactions. They asked Emerson to diagnose their readiness for the change and then develop and execute a change management plan.

We assessed impacts and developed custom solutions, including communications and stakeholder engagement to make the transition a success. Our team also built skills within Robert Half, to create internal capability for future changes.

Project Management as a Super Power

Consistently named one of the Best Places to Work, the world’s leading biotech firm produces innovative medical solutions that have transformed our lives. Teams seeking the latest cures must juggle multiple projects, often with multiple timelines and jurisdictions. They needed a super-powered, cross-functional project management process. What a challenge!

As the company redefined business processes across functions, Emerson partnered with them to develop an effective change strategy and an impactful communication plan.

Optimizing a Work Environment

A major credit card company needed help creating a positive and inclusive work environment, starting with their leadership.

A major credit card company engaged Emerson to help their leadership group create a positive and inclusive work environment. We developed a workshop for executives.

At the end of the workshop, the participants were able to provide real-life examples showing how diverse cultural perspectives can cause workplace misunderstandings, describe how culture impacts work behavior, identify how improved communication skills across diverse teams increase productivity, and list solutions to create a more inclusive and affirming work environment.

Operating Expertly

A major oil and gas company needed help determining the headcount to support operations, comply with Global Standards and handle SAP.

A major oil and gas company was reviewing its terminal stock control function, including operators’ ability to comply with Global Standards and handle SAP. They needed help determining the headcount required to support operations.

Emerson provided the resource planning tools and support to create the terminal vs. headquarter operating plan.

New Process? No Problem.

A government agency needed a large swath of their employees to use new processes quickly and effectively.

A large U.S. government agency had redesigned business processes as part of a comprehensive IT implementation: the Virtual Case File project. They needed their employees to use the new processes quickly and effectively. Emerson designed and facilitated tactical change management workshops, training 2,000 agents from all 56 field offices in a six-week period.

Participants rated the project highly, stating that it was one of the most effective and best organized, implementation efforts in the organization.

Mission Critical Competencies

A government agency needed to make sure their people were sharp enough to face today’s challenges. We helped them develop the Intelligence Career Service.

A large U.S. government agency needed to make sure their people were sharp enough to face today’s challenges. We helped them develop the Intelligence Career Service. Working with a dedicated group of employees, we helped determine the mission-critical competencies needed for three distinct roles – intelligence analyst, language analyst and surveillance specialist.

We also surveyed the entire intelligence and language analyst workforce to learn first-hand how they could better perform their jobs. In the process, we helped embed the knowledge, skills and abilities vital to the core capability of this world-class agency.